Milton Keynes Cancer Patient Partnership
Sharing the Caring for Cancer in Milton Keynes
At a recent Zoom meeting of the University of Buckingham’s Cancer and Pathology Society (associated with MKUH), medical students staged a Q and A discussion with two members of the MKCPP who shared their experiences of their own cancer journeys.
By kind permission of the Society and the two MKCPP members concerned, here now is the video of the discussion for you to share.
Henry Dylan Allen was just two years old in February 2012 when he was diagnosed with a terrible childhood cancer: Stage 4, High Risk, MYCN Amplified Neuroblastoma. Hopefully, you will know his story – he is a local superhero.
Henry went through two years of gruelling tests, painful treatments and surgeries yet Henry smiled. His happiness and bravery were astonishing.
‘Henry’s Happiness’ won the hearts of our community and the fundraising began – fundraising initially for treatment abroad. Henry’s condition deteriorated and there were no more options. Henry came home and sadly on the 20th October 2013 superhero Henry gained his angel wings. Gone but never forgotten.
But, as with all superheroes, Henry had dreamt BIG and he made his Mummy and Daddy “pinkie promise” to follow his dreams and help the other children. The Henry Allen Trust (THAT) was born.
Christine Cowap, our local Macmillan Engagement Lead, shares the following:
“As part of our response to the Coronavirus pandemic, we have built on the existing good practice of our local volunteer buddy schemes and are now offering a Telephone Buddying service to people living with cancer across the UK. This is will see trained and supported Macmillan volunteers offering a weekly telephone chat service; providing a listening ear and low level emotional support, as well signposting to our and other appropriate services.”
“Following this link will take you to the page on our website where you can refer someone, or the link can be shared for people to self-refer. Anyone referred will have an initial conversation and assessment with a Macmillan member of staff, and will then be matched with a volunteer buddy. Our experienced Macmillan volunteer managers will be supervising and supporting the buddies throughout the process, and service users will also have a named Macmillan member of staff to contact if necessary.”
For up-to-date news, discussions and the chance to join in with your views, please visit and join the MKCPP Facebook group.
There are two more Macmillan iHope courses starting in May and June, virtually of course given the COVID19 pandemic. Many thanks to Christine Cowap, our regional Macmillan Engagement Lead for sharing this information:
